THE EXPLORATION OF NORTH AMERICA HOW THE UNITED STATES BEGAN…

THE EXPLORATION OF NORTH AMERICA

HOW THE UNITED STATES BEGAN…

EXPLORATION To travel to a region previously unknown to

learn about its features and inhabitants.

Because of advances in TECHNOLOGY and map-making, Europeans began successfully navigating the Atlantic Ocean.

SPAIN WAS First…. Christopher Columbus

sailed to Spain to find new trade route to Asia. Landed in Caribbean Islands in 1492.

Conquistadores came soon after, claiming (and plundering) the New World for Spain.

WHY DID SPAIN EXPLORE?

THE 3 G’S…

SPANISH MOTIVATION GOLD – Natural Resource, Economic Wealth GOD – Christianity to Native Americans GLORY – Make Spain more powerful than

others

Spain claimed South and Central America and Southwestern North America.

Spain was the most powerful nation on earth in the early 1500’s. Because of the Spanish Armada (Spain’s fleet of armed ships), no other European nations could cross the Atlantic Ocean to explore the New World.

In 1588, England defeated the Spanish Armada. This meant that other European nations could now explore and claim land in the New World.

WHY DID FRANCE EXPLORE?

The 3 F’s…

FRENCH MOTIVATION

FURS – Animal furs could be sold in

Europe. FISH – Natural Resources FRIENDSHIP WITH THE NATIVES

(Trade)

France claimed the

Mississippi River Valley.

WHY DID ENGLAND EXPLORE?

The 3 E’s…

ENGLISH MOTIVATION ECONOMIC WEALTH – Natural Resources from

North America that could be traded in Europe ESCAPE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION – If you didn’t

believe in the Church of England, you were harassed, discriminated against, and even killed.

EXPAND LAND – England is small island, population growing and food shortages.

England claimed the east coast

of North America.

EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL CLAIMS IN NORTH AMERICA

COLONIZATION

Groups of people settle in a distant land but remain under the control of their native land (mother country).

Key questions…

What PUSH and PULL factors motivated Europeans to leave their

homes in the 1600’s?

PUSH--WHY LEAVE EUROPE?

HUNGER HOMELESSNESS POVERTY LACK OF OPPORTUNITY RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE

PULL--WHY GO TO AMERICA?

LAND OF ABUNDANCE- Opportunity to own your own land

RESOURCES OF ABUNDANCE- FORESTS and RICH SOIL, FISH & GAME

PROMISE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROMISES OF WEALTH

Which group was neither pushed nor pulled to America?